The editorial "Is Obama another FDR? Let's hope not!" of Nov. 23 omitted some of the first policies of Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he took office in 1933.
Besides the bank holiday, he cut spending by the federal government by laying off many government workers. It took FDR awhile to decide that government spending was not the problem, but lack of income by the people was.
My father took a civil service examination in Chicago while Hoover was president and got the highest score. Almost all of the other test takers were lawyers. Dad was hired but was laid off after FDR took office.
My father and mother, a teacher, were both unemployed with four children and down to a $1.50 and some cents when he was recalled to his job. This was when FDR changed his policies to put people to work.
Times were rough in the cities, while those on farms could and did raise their own food. FDR was concerned about the income of farmers, so he raised their price of food by limiting food production, the start of government regulation of farming that lasted for decades.
So many people were unemployed that they had trouble paying for food.
James W. Cleary
Keysville
Comments
Sorry Mr. Cleary, but sometimes, for the good of the majority, the minority must endure some sacrifice. Americans today are still enjoying the benefits of many of the programs FDR initiated in the mid '30's; I:E: parks, arts, dams, other public works, and yes, even Social Security to name a few...the latter only placed in jeopardy by government mismanagement of the Social Security Trust that was intact when FDR left the scene. GGpap.
So, you are saying that Allendale County, with a 17% unemployment rate, should endure the sacrifice for the good of Wall Street? Small wonder why Obama was elected.
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